Biographical Information (written in 2006 - see notes at the bottom of the page)

I'm a Miniature Fox Terrier (a foxie), but as far as I know, I'm just another 'person', like you. I'm nearly 6 years old, and I'm deaf and don't know it. I live with Rodney, on this big yacht, (that he's been building for as long as I can remember), miles from the water.We are the absolute, best of friends, and we go everywhere together. We also have heaps of fun together and go out fishing and diving, whenever we can. I always go for a swim with him (usually only once and then sunbake) and that’s how I came to be a dogpaddler. People always seem to laugh at me, but that’s the only way I know to swim, just dogpaddling as fast as I can. They say that I was born deaf, (whatever that is) but I know lots of hand signals, like ‘come over here’, and ‘stay where I am’, and ‘go and get my rabbit’. I may only be small in size, but I live big, and love adventures.

As you can see from my many job titles, I have a lot to do around the place, and it’s only through good organizational skills, that I can spend so much time sleeping. It’s very important to always place yourself close by, ready to leap into action when you are disturbed. Mostly though it’s left up to me, to look after Rodney and the boat. My most important job, is to make sure that every morning, my stuffed rabbit is taken out of the bedroom and up to the cockpit area, on deck. Then, again at night I have to take the stuffed rabbit back into the bedroom. I’m not exactly sure why this is so important to the efficient running of the ship, but someone has to do it.

Department

I’m the only dog. That means I have a huge department, and no staff. I seem to spend a lot of time going up and down my ‘rat ramp’ all day checking out what’s going on in different areas.If it looks like we might be going out, then I’m the one who has to race around madly to get ready, so I can be carried down to the car to leave. I’m not allowed to walk up, or down, the long steps to the ground, ever. Not once, in my whole life have I set foot on the steps. That’s why, when I’m sometimes left on board alone, which I can’t stand, it never enters my head to try and go down the steps.

- To keep practising my dog paddling until I get really good.- To find more places on board to hide food, and bones (that Rodney can't find).- To finally catch one of those birds, that sits on the railing. out of reach, laughing at me.- To chew my rabbit to pieces, because no sooner do I tear some part off, and Rodney sews it back on. (and then I have to chew it off all over again)

I don't have any favourite links yet, (apart from Rodney's pages). Maybe you could be one. But when I do get some good links, I'll put them right here for you. There must be lot's of other dog paddlers out there.

THIS PAGE WAS WRITTEN IN 2006 - and a lot has happened to us since thenwhen you're ready please follow the Menu buttons on the top leftNew > Email Newsletters to see our recent stories and photos - or click hereThank youRodney & PennyOctober 2010

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Always on guard

Rabbit fighting

Back paddling

These original pageswere created in 2006 for our most recent emails and photosPLEASE CLICK HERE